Agricultural Waste Utilization

Agricultural waste utilization is of comparatively recent origin. Agricultural solid wastes are widely recognized as potential sources of nutrients for direct or indirect use in animal agricultural production. Based on the nutrient status of the wastes, some portion of animal wastes is used as a feed supplement for livestock; however, caution is warranted for some unknown compounds that are likely to be present in the wastes in trace amounts, such as drugs fed to animals through feed additives or administered to the body of the animals during production to treat them during diseases. Agricultural waste derived from animal production facilities around the world can act as various sources for renewable energy, carbon sequestration, and reduction of emission of greenhouse gases. In the following section various benefits of agriculturally derived waste are briefly discussed.